Zeke's Birth Story, Part 1

I left off with a 41 week pregnancy update and thought he would never be born. Ha!

By the end of that last week, I started trying more of the 'tricks' to induce labor. We took a very bumpy ride in Jared's hunting Jeep on Friday evening, then went for HOT wings and a walk before dark. Mae wasn't quite sure about the bumpy ride! Ha! I did have some contractions that evening, but they fizzled out pretty quickly.

Saturday morning, the 16th, all 3 kids went to Papaw and Mamaw's for the day. I took the opportunity to rest and to do something I said I'd never do....I took a half dose of castor oil, in hopes that it would get something started. Everything I read said that it would work, if your body was ready. Well, if it's not ready at 41+ weeks, it's never ready! I took a dose at 8:45 and another at 10:45. I had the GI side effects very mildly for about an hour, then nothing. Supposedly it takes 12-24 hours for labor to start after taking the castor oil, so I was hopeful! 

Jared took me on another bumpy Jeep ride, then I rested a lot in the afternoon. I did start having some contractions mid-afternoon, but they didn't hurt and were very short. Jared picked up the kids and got home around 7, I think. We got them bathed and settled and I took another walk. I had some more contractions on the walk.....more frequent, but still short. After I showered and rested, they spaced back out a bit, but were actually a little painful. I finally had hope that he would be born before the induction! 

Last baby belly picture (ever, I hope...ha!) at 41w3d.....I was pretty sure I was in early labor at this point. 

I tried to keep moving around, in hopes to keep them going, and it worked! I finally got in bed around 11 pm and tried to sleep some. I dozed until 11:45ish, then had to get up because of the contractions (so, 45 minutes of sleep the whole night). They were lasting about 45 seconds, but only really painful for about 10 seconds while they peaked. They were still irregular....some would be less than 3 minutes apart and some 5 minutes. 

This whole time, I've been worried about staying home too long and having the baby in the car or something. ha! So, I didn't want to wait too long, but I also didn't want to get there and have the contractions fade once they made me stay in the bed (for the most part). I have always HATED laying in the bed and laboring....really uncomfortable. I was hoping to get to the hospital around 5-6 cm. 

I woke Jared up and called the sitter around 1:30, I think, and we headed over to the hospital. I had pre-registered for the induction, so my info was all there and check in was quick. The poor lady at the desk was in a panic when I told her it was the 4th baby and 11 days overdue. I think she thought I was going to have him right there at her desk. Ha!

Once I got upstairs and settled into the triage room, they said I was 4 cm and "congratulations, you're in labor! You get to stay!". I told her that there was no way I would have left the hospital no matter what she said. :p Apparently a lot of people come in before it's time. 

I got to my room from there and, as I expected, the contractions slowed down some since I had to stay on the monitors. I finally convinced my nurse to let me get up and walk around some, but I was also sooooo sleepy (it was probably 4am at this point), so I wanted to rest too. I walked and rested for a bit and by 7 or so, I was 6.5 cm. The contractions were still spaced out several minutes and not hurting terribly bad, but the on-call Dr was coming soon and would break my water, which would make him drop down and the contractions pick up, so I went ahead and told them I'd take the epidural at any time.

The anesthesiologist came around 8, I think, and did the epidural. Tiny prick, no pain, and it took pretty well. They changed epidurals since I had Mae. It used to be a continuous dose and you couldn't bolus more (it always made me almost too numb anyway), but this time it's a smaller continuous dose and you have a button to push for more, if you need it. I really liked that because I could still move my legs some and feel the contractions, but it took the edge off. 

Everyone waiting: 

Julee Brooke picked up Arabelle, Bo, and Mae from the house and brought them to the hospital for us. Jared brought Arabelle and Bo in (didn't want Mae to get upset and not want to leave the room) after the epidural. Arabelle was a bit hesitant and didn't stay long, but Bo was his usual self. :)

I slept off and on after that. At 10ish, I was 9 cm. At some point before that they started some pitocin to get the contractions moving a long. 

Probably around 10:45, they started prepping the room and the nurse said I was 10 cm.  At 11, Dr Diamond came in and the show began and 12 minutes later, there was Zeke! 

With the way the epidural worked, I could feel the contractions and feel him being born, but it wasn't a painful thing (thankfully!), just pressure. With the other kids, once the head was delivered, the rest of them came on with very little effort, but with Z, it was different (and a bit scary for a brief moment). His head was delivered and I started pushing for the rest of him, but he didn't come on out. Dr. Diamond (who is not my regular Dr, but delivered Arabelle) always seems so laid back, but he had a bit of panic/urgency in his voice when he said, "Come on Katie, you've got to get this baby out", so one BIG push and out he came! 

I can not even describe the immediate relief of having that big boy OUT of my body!

So happy to have him safely in my arms!

To me, he didn't look any bigger than the others did when they were born, but Dr D said right away that Zeke was a 10+ lb baby and all the nurses agreed. They cleaned him up and they took him to the nursery right quick to weigh him. I heard a nurse in the hall way say, "Wow!!!", then Jared came in and told me he weighed 10lb 13oz!! I couldn't believe it! I still can't really understand how that is physically possible. Ha! I also realized afterwards that he very well could have gotten stuck and we could have had a really awful situation. I am SO thankful God was taking care of us in that situation. 

Part 2 is coming.....the kids and family meet Zeke! 

Staying Busy

Being overdue is really frustrating, so we've tried to stay really busy and do a lot of fun activities!

Bo is the frog hunting master. He found and named this one "Mr. Big Pants". Ha!

Mae is always grabbing my phone and saying "I see Nae!" and wanting to take pictures of herself.

Arabelle and Bo wanted to go down the slip-n-slide together. She would put Bo on her back, walk a few steps, and try to slide. It didn't really work, but they had fun!

Last Monday evening, Sambo and Leigh Leigh hosted a 'Blueberry Party' for Bo and Tripp's little friends. It was such a fun idea! The kids picked and ate blueberries, played on the playset, and had pizza and snacks. 

Mae is a blueberry picking pro. 

Tuesday morning, I had my Dr, appt, so our babysitter kept the kids. I brought home packs of balloons and surprised them with a picnic lunch (with the leftover pizza from the blueberry party!). Arabelle loves picnics so much!

Wednesday, Mae was sick with a fever and cold symptoms, so she couldn't go to preschool. I had my non-stress test appt, so she and I went to that, while Arabelle played with Sambo and Leigh Leigh and Bo went to school. Once the appt was over, the girls and I busted Bo out of school early, picked up donuts and cupcakes, then went to the park. 

 Mae played on the playground equipment for awhile, then joined Arabelle and Bo in the little creek to look for 'treasure'.

Friday, Mae was STILL running a fever and seemed sickly, so I took her to get checked out. I assumed it was viral, but considering the situation (weekend + baby by Monday), it seemed like the best choice. Her ears and chest were clear, so it was viral. Phew. Obviously, we needed another donut that day. 

Friday afternoon Jared took us for a bumpy ride in his hunting Jeep in hopes of convincing baby brother to come out. No luck, but the kids had fun!

And we still wait.....

*I'm scheduling this on Saturday....the baby should be here by the time it posts! :)

41 weeks with baby #4

Not surprisingly, I hit the one week overdue mark with this pregnancy.

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: Wed. May 13th was 41 weeks
• Size of baby: I had an ultrasound at my Dr office on Tuesday and the baby was an estimated 8lb 8oz, plus or minus 1.5 lb. So, obviously not super accurate at this point. I'm sure he'll be 9 lb at least. 
• Total weight gain: 32 lbs.
• Movement: He still moves a TON in the evenings and any time I get still. I can tell he has dropped a little because he's not up in my ribs anymore. 
• Symptoms: A few painless Braxton Hicks here and there, but nothing serious. At my Dr appt I was 2cm and 70% effaced. The baby had dropped a little and was at a -2 station. I had a Non-Stress test (sitting in a recliner with a monitor on the baby and it measures the baby's heartbeat to look for heart rate variation with baby's movement) on Wed. and the baby looked great. 
• What's next: Scheduled an induction for Monday, May 18th, if he's not here by then.

We did get a pretty good picture of his face at the ultrasound on Tuesday! You can see his left eye (the dark spot), nose, and mouth. So ready to see this sweet face!!!!

This was on Mother's Day at 40 weeks and 4 days. He's grown since then. :P

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was Sunday, May 10th and I was half surprised to not have baby #4 yet, but half expecting to still be waiting too. It was nice to have the day to enjoy the kids and get spoiled a little! :)

I did want a picture of myself with the kids WITHOUT the whining that is usually involved. Once simple sentence helped...."Let's take a picture then you can have CANDY". Worked like a charm. Bo especially is cracking me up because he hates pictures, but he's sitting there smiling like it's his favorite thing. Ha!

It was a really nice day.....church, lunch, a long nap, playing outside with the kids, Mamaw & Papaw came, and Jared grilled for supper. 

Seven years of celebrating Mother's Day! So thankful God entrusted these kids with us! 

40 weeks with Baby #4. Due Date!

Well, the due date (5/6/15)  has come and gone. I guess I can take some pride in knowing I was right that he wouldn't be here early. :p

We are all getting excited, but I think Arabelle is probably the most excited. Bo hasn't said anything about his brother's impending arrival, but says he is excited to hold him if I ask. Mae wrapped her little arms around my belly the other day and said "hold baby!!!". Ha!

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: 40 weeks and 1 day today
• Size of baby: Probably 9 lbs. 
• Total weight gain: Still sitting right at 30 lbs. 
• Movement: Still a lot of crazy moves in there, especially at night. 
• Sleep: Still the same. Waking up a lot to roll over because my sides hurt, having to get up during the night some, and trying to sleep half way propped up so he won't kick my ribs so much. I have started taking naps when Mae does, so that helps. I was so desperate yesterday that I let Arabelle and Bo get out glue and glitter while I napped. Ha! 
• Symptoms: Still no signs of labor. I figure I'll make it to or through the weekend at least. I was just 1 cm and 50% effaced yesterday and the baby was at -3 station (way up high, still). 
• What's next: Have the baby!? My next appt is on Tuesday, 5/12, but hopefully I won't be able to make it. 

Arabelle and I had a little due date celebration with a cupcake for her and a donut for myself yesterday: 

Arabelle threw up a couple of times during the night, so hopefully it's short lived and the rest of us miss out on a pre-baby stomach virus. Yuck. 

39 Weeks with Baby #4

It's actually 39 weeks and a few days at this point, which I can't believe! These last few days/weeks has been a blur of busyness and the big day is quickly approaching!

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: 39 weeks on 4/29, so now we're under a week from the due date of 5/6/15.
• Size of the baby: Huge, I'm sure. He may do an u/s next week at my 40 week appointment to measure, but they are usually pretty inaccurate at this stage, so I may not waste the time even if he offers.
• Total Weigh Gain: 30 lb! I'm 1 lb away from my max pregnancy weight, so hopefully I can keep it together until next week.
• Gender: Boy.....I'm so excited to see him! Bo was a really hairy baby and I'm curious if this one will come out with a little fur coat too. Haha!!
• Movement: Definitely still a lot of alien like movement going on. He's head down, so I can feel his butt and legs up high and every now and then, he will stick a knee or foot straight out the side. Quite possibly the weirdest thing ever, but fascinating at the same time. 
• Sleep: Don't get me started. I've always slept really well until having the baby, but this time it's not working out that way. I've never had a baby get up under my ribs until now, so every 30 or so minutes, I wake up with a jab in the rib on whichever side I'm laying on, so I roll over and try to go back to sleep. Usually by 3-4 in the morning, I have to get up awhile because my upper belly/ribs are sore. Training for those newborn nights! I've got a 'nest' of pillows all around me for rolling over. 
• Cravings: Nothing really, just enjoying the last week or so eating anything I want and having a really good excuse. :)
• Symptoms: Still going to the chiropractor each week until delivery, so I've not really had much back pain/sciatica. The only pain is when he moves a certain way and hits the sciatic nerve and the pain shoots down my backside and leg. Also having some leg cramps at night and I wake up with my legs feeling like I did in high school after tough basketball game, but I haven't actually done anything. :p No back pain, no contractions, nothing. 
• What's next: Dr. appt on Wed, 5/6 and we will see if there's any progress (I haven't been checked yet). 

The belly is a bit out of control in size. So many people ask when the baby is due, then say that it looks like he's about to fall out. :p

36 weeks with baby #4

I can't believe we are under a month from the due date!!!

Some friends from church gave me a little girls' night out/baby shower on Monday (so nice!), so we have diapers and I've pulled out some of Bo's baby clothes, so I'm slowly getting ready. :)

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: 36 weeks on Wednesday April, 8th. 
• Size of the baby: The estimated weight at 36 weeks is 6lb 7oz. Dr. G commented that this baby shouldn't be as big as the others, but he has said that the last two times, so I'm still expecting a 9+ lb baby. Mae measured 6lb 4oz at her u/s around this same time. Baby boy's head was too low for a good picture of his face on the u/s. 
• Total weight gain: +27 lb. I am about 5 lb from my usual end of pregnancy weight, so looks like I'll end up about the same again...phew!
• Gender: Definitely a BOY on this last u/s. 
• Movement: Lots of big movements now and they often hurt. I do love this part of the pregnancy though!
• Sleep: Waking up more for the bathroom and because I'm sore from laying on one side and I need to roll over, but still getting a good night of sleep (for another month anyway!). 
• Cravings: Pretty much enjoying food (except steak and hamburgers). 
• Symptoms: Started having some sciatica here and there in the last week, so I've started going to the chiropractor weekly and will continue until delivery. 
• What's next: Weekly Dr. appointments from here on out!

One month to go!

32 weeks with baby #4!

The weeks are just flying by! Eight more weeks until the due date, so about 9 weeks until we meet this little boy!!!

I also can NOT believe we did Disney World when I was 32 weeks with Mae. Phew! Ha!

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: 32 weeks on 3/11/15
• Size of the baby: I'll have an u/s at my next appt (36 weeks since the Dr will be out of town at the 35 week mark). Average baby size at 32 weeks is just under 4 lbs. 
• Total weight gain: Thanks to that awful stomach virus, I dropped 4 lbs since the last appt instead of gaining the expected 4 lb, so I'm at +24 lbs. Arabelle and I celebrated a good appointment with donuts and cupcakes. Haha!
• Gender: BOY!
• Movement: He seems to move all the time! Bo pulled up a chair the other day to sit and 'watch the baby move'. :)
• Sleep: Still sleeping pretty well and enjoying the ability to sleep ALL NIGHT LONG without interruption. 
• Cravings: Nothing really....trying to recover from that stomach virus still. I pretty much like everything except grilled meat/beef. 
• Symptoms: I'm still not having ANY back pain or sciatica! I can't believe it! I'll start going to the chiropractor around 34 weeks anyway to make sure things stay aligned. Just feeling BIG and tired. My hemoglobin is actually a little low (they checked it at my appt. on Wed.), so I need to start some iron supplements. 
• Best Moment of the Week: Bo has really been interested in seeing/feeling the baby move and talking to the baby. He's excited!
• What's next: There's usually a 35 week appt, but Dr G will be out of town, so I get an extra week off. At the 36 week appt, he will do an u/s to measure our fella and then I'll start weekly appointments after that. 

Arabelle took my picture while we were playing outside the other day.....32 weeks! 

28 weeks with baby #4....third trimester!

I can't believe I'm in the last leg of this pregnancy! The beginning seems SO slow and the rest just flies by.

Pregnancy Highlights:

• How far along: 28 weeks 4 days as of today (2/15)
• Size of the baby: Supposedly about 2.5 lbs and the size of a large eggplant. I'm sure this little guy is bigger than average though, like all the rest have been. 
• Total Weight Gain: 28 lbs....yep. I gained 20 with Arabelle and Bo, 30 with Mae, and probably going to hit 40 this time. I know I'm eating healthier this time than I did with Arabelle (night shift work + cafeteria meant a lot of macaroni and cheese!). I guess being 30 instead of 24 makes a difference. I've lost it all each time with little effort, so I'm hoping my body will do that just one more time!
• Gender: BOY!
• Movement: Definitely an active baby in there. Not a whole lot of movement in the mornings and it's sporadic throughout the day, but things pick up in the evenings and night. Some of the kicks are starting to hurt already. 
• Sleep: I've been sleeping really well, besides a bathroom break once or twice. Usually by 7:00, I'm done laying down and get to feeling nauseated and dizzy if I don't get up and eat something. I've started with a head cold/cough this weekend, so that is making sleep more difficult.
• Cravings: Nothing really. Still not liking grilled beef (no steak or hamburgers...yuck!). Grilled chicken is okay, but still not the best. I was STARVING for about a week a few weeks ago and was eating a ton of snacks (cereal,  apples with PB, yogurt, etc) but that's stopped, thankfully!
• Symptoms: Just generally feeling BIG, nausea in the morning before I eat and I get nauseated in the evenings some, no matter if I've had a snack or not, lots of tension headaches on the back of my head and neck (need to get to the chiropractor soon!), and other things that I'm sure no family members want to think about and I didn't even know existed before I had children (even after Arabelle and Bo.....my body is wearing out!).
• Best moment of the week: Feeling and seeing all the little kicks and trying to teach Mae that there's a baby in there and not a ball. :)
• What's next: I had my glucose test last week at my 28 week appt and passed that just fine. Next appt in 4 weeks will be with the nurse practitioner since the Dr. will be out of town, then 3 weeks after that (35 weeks), will be an appt with the Dr. and an u/s to measure the baby's growth. I am already feeling some kicks up high on my belly, so I think this boy is a whopper. 

This is hilarious to me.....28 weeks with Arabelle and 28 weeks this time. Things stretch out a lot quicker the 4th time. :p